New manager Tom Cribbin says Westmeath can be liberated by finally getting “the monkey off their back” with a first victory since May 2013.

The Lakemen’s awful winless run was ended last night in Round 2 of the O’Byrne Cup courtesy of an impressive 3-11 to 2-13 triumph over DCU in Kinnegad.

Cribbin was full of praise for his new charges afterwards, telling PJ Ward of Midlands 103 that his side can kick on now with a victory under their belts.

The Clane native said: ‘With the monkey off their back now you’ll start to seeing – because they are training and working very, very hard – I think they’ll play good, quality football now for everybody to enjoy.”

Westmeath face Longford next at the weekend.